The Distant Hours

Edie Burchill and her mother have never been close, but when a long lost letter arrives one Sunday afternoon with the return address of Milderhurst Castle, Kent, printed on its envelope, Edie begins to suspect that her mother’s emotional distance masks an old secret.

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Publisher's Summary

Edie Burchill and her mother have never been close, but when a long lost letter arrives one Sunday afternoon with the return address of Milderhurst Castle, Kent, printed on its envelope, Edie begins to suspect that her mother’s emotional distance masks an old secret.

Evacuated from London as a 12-year-old girl, Edie’s mother is chosen by the mysterious Juniper Blythe and taken to live at Milderhurst Castle with the Blythe family: Juniper, her twin sisters, and their father, Raymond.

Fifty years later, as Edie chases the answers to her mother’s riddle. She, too, is drawn to Milderhurst Castle and the eccentric sisters Blythe. Old ladies now, the three still live together, the twins nursing Juniper, whose abandonment by her fiancé in 1941 plunged her into madness.

Inside the decaying castle, Edie begins to unravel her mother’s past. But there are other secrets hidden in the stones of Milderhurst Castle, and Edie is about to learn more than she expected. For the truth of what happened in the distant hours has been waiting a long time for someone to find it....

You have to be in just the right mood to enjoy this book, like being in the right place at the right time; thankfully I was and therefore, I just adored it! I got so drawn into the characters and the world they inhabit, that I even DREAMT about them! That’s a first for me.

It’s also the first time I can use the expression “curled up” with a book and mean it – it was like comfort food and getting back to it was like going to find out what my good friends have been up to while I was away.

In a nut shell, it’s a slow moving mystery about a woman who delves into her mother’s past and stumbles upon the story (and secrets) of three sisters during the 1940s, now old spinsters living in a dilapidated castle. Their tale is told through discoveries made by our present-day protagonist, weaved in with scenes from the prescriptive of the various key characters as their story unfolds before the war.

The characters were so perfectly depicted, I felt like I knew them personally and it was easy to get so completely sucked into their orb. The author’s ability to paint scenes with words was so first-rate to me that I felt like I was actually there at times, as if I could FEEL the surroundings yet it was not so overly descriptive that I couldn’t use my own imagination to flesh out the view in my mind.

My mood was ideal for getting carried away in this story. It’s not an “edge of your seat” mystery, but rather a tale that uncoils slowly with bits and pieces of clues revealed here and there, leaving you guessing until pretty much the end. Like a ribbon slowly unravelling.

If you want wall to wall action, put it aside and get back to it when you feel the need for slow (almost drawn out but never boring or tedious) escapism instead.

Having adjusted my expectations after reading several lackluster reviews of "The Distant Hours", I was happily surprised to find myself mesmerized by this complex, layered, romantic story. Listening as I knitted, gardened, cooked, and hung laundry, I was glad for the slow pace, the detailed descriptions that transported me in space and time, and the character development which made Juniper, Saffy, Percy, Meridith, and Edie real and sympathetic. Kate Morton crafts her language, and I savored her almost poetic descriptions of Milderhurst Castle. I loved that she took the time to tell the story properly, having faith that the reader would prefer quality over pace. When something is as beautiful as "The Distant Hours", I'd really rather not be rushed.

Yes this book is beautifully written and nicely narrated, and the story is engaging. In book form I would have enjoyed it, as I would have been free to skim over some of the incredibly exhausting details. Trapped in my car with the audio version, however, this option was not available. There is just far too much detail and far too much time spent on matters that are largely irrelevant to the plot. For some readers who enjoy the journey more than the destination, this is a positive thing I know but for me, way too frustrating. I thought I would tear my hair out in the final couple of hours, waiting for the end to come, and having to endure endless amounts of descriptive prose. As I said, beautifully written, no denying that, and the author has a truly impressive ability to paint a mental picture, but for me, just too long.

If you enjoyed Morton's other books, you may find this one to be your favorite. The narration is excellent, and the twists in the plot line keep you guessing til the end. I always suggest the Forgotten Garden to newbie audio listeners, and this one is almost always their second download.Heres hoping Morton writes more soon!

Distant Hours starts you off on a gentle stroll in the English countryside , slowly introducing you to the oh so British characters. Then, all of sudden, the listener is totally sucked into the mystery and drama that enfolds, with pieces that don’t totally come together until just about the last page. Fascinating glimpse of English life in the war years, 1940s, and then present day, with a rewarding mystery ingeniously interwoven. The Forgotten Garden was one of my favorite listens, and this novel was just as good. Kate Morton is a wondrous story teller.

I think the title of this book gives you a preview of the way you will feel when reading it. That is, "The distant hours from now that I will finally finish this very long story that is sure taking a long time to develop...those hours just seem so far away right now (because they are!)"

I really enjoyed the Forgotten Garden, so I was excited about The Distant Hours. However, I was left feeling "meh" about the story. Some of the characters appear to be Sociopaths (anyone that has read or listened to "The Sociopath Next Door" would likely agree) but then their actions are not consistent with what appears to be their agenda.

The book was very depressing for me. Dark. Sad. Just a lot of melancholy and sadness. The bright spots were so few. I think before I read/listen to another Kate Morton, I will read the reviews.

There is fine line between suspense and tedium, and I'm not sure that Kate Morton has mastered it! The story is interesting enough . . . but not entirely plausable. The wordsmithing is skilled - almost lyrical - but not enough to keep the reader entirely engaged. For those who fell in love with "The Forgotten Garden" - this book will not measure up.

I have listened to all of Kate Morton's books and they are all equally excellent. Her ability to build characters, and move the listener/reader from the past to the present is superb. I would highly recommend her books to everyone.

I've just come to the end of this book ... it's a great tale but completely spoilt for me by the australian accents. The 'East End of London' australian accent of the war years didn't 'do it' for me I'm afraid. The yarn is quite a good one but - and I'm sorry there is a 'but' - it's rather drawn out and predictable at the end ... I ended up guessing (correctly) what was going to happen next. However, I always buy nice long books to see me through the night and this was a good, long tale, with twists and turns. A bit lightweight as it turns out but good to pass the time of night ...

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Jane

Stanhoe, King's Lynn, Norfolk, United Kingdom

1/25/11

Overall

"Down to you"

The Distant Hours in very much in the style of the gothic novel and the extent to which you enjoy it is down to you.
As a sporadic gothic reader,this was a good yarn that kept me engaged (although I must admit I occasionally dropped off and then spent ages looking for the last bit I recognised though not while I was in the car I might add.
If you're looking for great literature, apt to nitpick about writing style and historical accuracy this is not for you. There's nothing glaring and nothing that stops this being a well crafted engaging story throughout.
On reading other reviews,I was struck by how polarised they were.
When I was tired from work and had a long car journey ahead of me at the weekend, this was great entertainment. Enjoy

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Annette Morris

1/24/11

Overall

"Captivating ...Do not miss"

Moreton creates the most endearing characters and I felt every nuance of emotion as I listened to this wonderful tale. The intrigue was fabulous and I was as excited as the lead character Edie Burchill as the mysteries unfolded. I could truly see the castle in my minds eye & my heart was pounding as ?I? walked the castle corridors along with Edie & the Sisters Blithe. There are so many different strands to this narrative; each character having a specific tale to tell, each story intertwines, impacting on each other. The twists and turns keep you hooked until the very last page. I took long walks, looked for excuses to go out in the car, unnecessary housework and even went to the gym just to allow me to keep listening ! Narration excellent.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Heather

Romsley Halesowen, United Kingdom

10/31/11

Overall

"Enjoyable"

This book is not quite as good as the first 2 (House at Riverton & Forgotten Garden) But enjoyable non the less.. My one gripe is that The narrator is an Australian doing a rather poor English accent. If its an english Story, why not get an English person to narrate?

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Rachel

Sutton Coldfield , West Midlands , United Kingdom

2/11/11

Overall

"Another great book from Kate Morton"

Once again Kate Morton has written a book that keeps you wondering what's going to happen until the very end. The narration was easy to listen to (and I got loads of cleaning done while listening; it didn't seem like work at all!)

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

The Purple Sunflower

Manchester, England

10/27/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Plodding story, but a relaxing listen."

Would you try another book written by Kate Morton or narrated by Caroline Lee?

Maybe not.

Would you recommend The Distant Hours to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes if they wanted a relaxing story that moved at a pedantic pace.

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Caroline Lee?

Not sure.

Do you think The Distant Hours needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I didn't get to the end of the book. But may possibly revisit at a later stage.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

aprintis

UK

4/13/13

Overall

"A great listen"

The Distant Hours is an intriguing listen, beautifully read by Caroline Lee. Her voice suits the narrator role and makes the storytelling all the more believable. The story, itself, builds gradually and holds your attention as it unfolds over differing timeframes and dimensions. All of the characters add something to the tale and you are drawn into each part of the story, almost forgetting where you were before until that character's narrative is picked up again. Overall, a very engaging listen.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Patricia A. Thompson

UK

5/16/12

Overall

"Lost Hours"

I was completely engrossed listening to this book, hence the title of the review. I got lost in this story for hours on end. I found all the characters completely believable, some not particularly likeable, but each one drew me in to the story. There was a shade of the Miss Haversham's with unrequited love and I've always loved Great Expectations, so that's perhaps why this drew me in so well. A mystery, a ghost story and one that kept me listening and eager to know more.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Joan

Co Wicklow, Ireland

4/17/12

Overall

"The narrator's accent really grates"

The story is wonderful, but heavens above, the telling of this tale is really marred by the choice of an Australian to narrate a very British story.
I would give the book a 4 or even a 5 - but the narrator's accent really grated on my nerves and I was conscious of it the whole time.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Deborah

Stafford, United Kingdom

1/13/12

Overall

"Compelling"

The author never fails, this is an easy listen. I was initially unsure re the readers accent and didn't know if it suited the story but was soon dying to go to bed to listen further.I loved it but preferred the authors other other books.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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